10 Ways to Save Money When Holidaying in Singapore

1. Skip Taxis and Take the MRT

Taking taxis in Singapore can easily bust your travel budget. Other than the meter charge, there are all sorts of surcharges for rush-hours and usage of expressways.

Save money instead by using the subway, known as the MRT. While there have been incidences of dramatic breakdowns in recent years, the system remains one of the most efficient and affordable in Asia. With the exception of the zoological area, practically all major attractions are reachable by the MRT without the need for bus transfers. During evening peak hours it is well know that it is much faster to transverse town by MRT, rather than go by taxi.

Refer to this visual guide on how to reach major Singapore attractions by MRT.

Singapore's MRT system is clean, efficient and affordable.

Taxi Scams

It’s rare, but there have been incidences of taxi drivers not going by the meter and offering lump-sum deals. This is illegal, and the prices they quote are always cutthroat. If it happens to you, get out of the taxi immediately.

2. Check out the Passes, Packages, and Online Promotions

Like all cities geared towards tourism, there are various discount packages for visitors to Singapore.

The Singapore Tourist Pass is a tap-and-go card good to use with the country’s bus and MRT system. It’s quite affordable at 10 dollars for the one-day version (2016 prices). However, like all such transportation passes, you do need to take a minimum number of ride per day for it to be worthwhile. Personally, I feel you need to take at least five rides a day to benefit reasonably.

The ParkHopper packages for the Singapore Zoo is great value as they include not only the “day zoo,” but also the Bird Park, the Night Safari, and the River Safari. Individually, the day zoo alone cost near the half the price of the overall package. Getting a pass also, of course, saves you the hassle of having to queue for tickets again and again.

Lastly, some attractions offer discounts for online purchases. As of this time of writing, the Singapore Zoo was offering 25 per cent discount for online bookings. Such discounts could add up to significant savings.

Fret not. You can enjoy me at a discount.

3. Tap Water Is as Good as Bottled Water

Bottled water in Singapore could cost anything from a dollar, to well over 10 dollars for an imported bottle. Why deplete your travel budget on these when tap water is perfectly safe for drinking? Unlike treated water in some other countries, Singaporean tap water is also completely colourless and odour free. With the weather being constantly hot and humid, you might also wish to carry a water bottle with you while exploring Singapore’s attractions. These could be easily topped up from the tap. Some restaurants would also be willing to fill up for you.

Note: In the past, most Singaporean restaurants do not charge for iced or warm water. Sadly, some establishments no longer do so. If you’re concerned about this, ask the waiter when giving your order.

4. Eat Most Meals at Food Courts, Kopi-Tiams, or Hawker Centres

Food is something that could vary dramatically in price in Singapore. For example, you could enjoy a plate of fried Hokkien mee for four dollars at a casual eatery. In a swanky establishment, the same dish could cost forty dollars.

For this reason, have most of your meals at food courts if you need to watch your travel budget. These are air-conditioned, self-service places located all over the country, and all have a variety of stalls offering Asian and Western dishes at affordable prices. For even cheaper meals, venture out of the town area to the residential districts. Such as Tiong Bahru, Toa Payoh, Bishan or Bedok. Check out the hawker centres or kopi-tiams there, the latter being informal, open-air eateries. Not only is food very affordable at these places, it is also atmospheric the local way.

A word of warning. Some of these hawker stalls are legendary for their quality of food. A Singaporean past-time is to queue for an hour at one of these places for a bowl of noodles.

Food courts, hawker centres and kopi-tiams are great places for sampling Singapore's many dishes affordably.

Maxwell Food Market. One of Singapore's most popular hawker centres. | Source

A typical kopi-tiam.

One of the Best

A venerable hawker centre is conveniently located in the heart of Chinatown. Right behind the Buddha Tooth Temple. Not only is food incredibly cheap here, some of the stalls are considered the best in the country.

5. Minimise Pub Visits

Alcohol is frighteningly expensive in Singapore. You could be charged 10 bucks for a beer. Far more for stronger drinks. While I wouldn’t suggest you completely avoid the drinking nightspots of Singapore, if you take a few swigs at a watering den every night, you’re not going to have much money left for other things.

Consider instead to buy from supermarkets and convenience stores like 7-11, and drink at your hotel. Should this sounds dreary, then have your pint at hawker centres or kopi-tiams. These places charge far lesser than pubs and in the case of the latter, you can enjoy a glimpse into local culture. Do note though that Singapore introduced rather draconian liquor control law in 2015. Drinking is banned in all public places from 10.30 pm to 7 am. Retail shops are also not allowed to sell takeaway alcohol from 10.30 pm to 7 am. Don’t be caught drinking in public during these hours.

Unfortunately, drinking, and smoking, are the easiest ways to bust your travel budget when in Singapore.

6. It Is Extremely Costly to Light up in Singapore

With the exception of Great Britain, I do not know of any country that charges as much for cigarettes as Singapore. Worse, anti-smoking measures make it illegal to bring cigarettes into the country. That means you can’t even buy from the duty-free shop after landing in Singapore. At the customs, you would be made to pay local taxes for such purchases.

To put it in another way, there’s really no way around this other than to reduce your intake. Consider this perhaps as gentle encouragement for you to quit. Also, take note that Singapore has banned smoking from many places. At open-air eateries, one can only smoke at designated areas. It is also illegal to smoke at bus stops or within a certain distance of a building entrance. If caught, you are going to be fined heftily, which is surely the fastest way to deplete your travel budget. You might be excused after much embarrassing pleading with the officer, but do you really want to do that on a holiday?

7. You Don’t Need to Tip

Some food and beverage workers would hate me for saying this. But the truth remains that tipping is not a culture in Singapore. Most restaurants and cafes automatically charge an additional 10 per cent service fee with your final bill. On top of which there is another 8 per cent tax. While you might receive a dirty stare, rarely, for not leaving an extra dime, nobody is going to blame you for not tipping. The simple fact is you already did so with the service fee.

Note that not all F&B outlets charge this service fee, though. Hawker centres, food courts and kopi-tiams do not. Fast food restaurants and beverage outlets like Starbucks do not do so too. For all of these, it is also not the culture to tip. If you still choose to do so, service personnel would be grateful. But it is out of surprise, not expectation.

It's appreciated. But no one would condemn you for not tipping.

8. There Are Many Free Attractions, Performances, and Events

There is a plethora of free attractions in Singapore for those with limited travel budget.

Foremost is the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This 150-year-old green oasis fringes the town area and was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2015. On weekends, there are often free performances that are very popular with locals and expatriates.

Other than the Botanic Gardens, Singapore has several other well-maintained parks. Bishan Park and Punggol Waterway are two sprawling green belts equipped with eateries and recreational facilities. If the sea if your thing, check out East Coast Parkway. Cycling, jogging, and seafood indulgence have been popular at this beachfront for decades.

Other than parks, most Chinese and Hindu temples, and churches in Singapore are free to enter. The huge Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery in the heart of the country is a magnificent gathering of Asian Chinese architectural styles. St. Andrew’s Cathedral in downtown is a wonderful Neo-Gothic masterpiece. Should your tastes for mythology and the religious gear towards the macabre, take the MRT to Haw Par Villa. This statue park is easily the weirdest of its kind in Asia. And it’s completely free.

Finally, the iconic Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay regularly offers free performances, both indoors and outdoors. Enjoy one of these performances, then stroll over to Marina Bay Sands for the nightly light and water show. Aptly named as Wonder Full, this show is set against the Singaporean skyline. It is likely the most impressive free performance you’d see in the city-state.

Singapore Botanic Gardens. A must-visit UNESCO site and free for all.

The outdoor theare of Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay

Excerpts of Wonder Full : Light and Water Show at Marina Bay Sands

The main supermarket chains in Singapore are NTUC Fairprice, Sheng Siong, and Cold Storage. In the town area, Cold Storage dominates the market. In the residential areas, NTUC Fairprice and Sheng Siong compete intensely for local business.

All three chains offer an astonishing variety of goods. They also have daily special offers and make it a point to be near MRT stations. In other words, if you need a new razor, toiletries, titbits, beer, or even things like travel adaptors, don’t get them from the hotel shop. Drop by one of these supermarkets during the day.

Moreover, many supermarkets outside of the town area are located in “neighbourhood centres.” These are the lively hearts of residential districts, full of malls and street shops and the above-mentioned kopi-tiams and hawker centres. While prices for goods wouldn’t be dramatically lower than those in the town area, you might still find some bargains for clothes, watches etc.

Lastly, check out Daiso too, which has outlets all over Singapore. This Japanese chain sells everything for two dollars, and is stocked with foodstuffs, daily products, oddities and even clothes. Visiting a Daiso store could actually be an adventure, if only to be dazzled by its many colourful products. You might find yourself lingering in a store and sorely tempted to buy a full basket of all those fanciful products. This is a temptation many Singaporeans are familiar with.

A smaller neighbourhood centre at evening time.

What About Chinatown, Bugis Street?

Tourist haunts like Chinatown and Bugis Street do offer many bargains. However, they tend to emphasise on selling souvenirs and clothes. For other products, and personalised services, head to the residential districts.

Additional Tip on Shopping

Sales happen throughout the year in Singapore, with the Great Singapore Sale being the grandest. This usually takes place in the middle of the year from June to August.

And as like elsewhere, post Christmas, post New Year and post Chinese New Year periods are full of clearance sales. Outrageous bargains are often available during these periods. I once bought a jacket at a quarter of the price it was retailed for before the holiday.

10. Be Careful If You Intend to Buy Electronic or IT Products

As a Singaporean, it shames me to say this. We had several high-profile scam cases involving electronic and telco products. All cases involved tourists and the bulk of them took place within the unholy trinity of People’s Park Complex, Lucky Plaza, and Sim Lim Square. A common scam is a costly, “compulsory” warranty accompanying the purchase.

There are new and aggressive measures to counter these unscrupulous merchants. For example, at People’s Park Complex, there are self-service kiosks to report scams. Still, crime always finds a way, doesn’t it? If you must buy from these places, be well-informed of general prices before entering a store. Also, never succumb to bullying tactics. Do not permit the merchant to lower the shutters and lock you within the store. If threatened, leave immediately or call 999. Singapore prides itself on its clean image. Take heart that both government and people here will not tolerate such behaviour towards tourists, and will be on your side when such scams happen.

Consumer Electronics Exhibitions

Consumer electronics exhibitions are hugely popular in Singapore, with the most popular ones being IT Show, PC Show, SITEX and COMEX. Search online for specific dates and venues. A word of advice, if you intend to go, do be prepared for crowds.